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LTE Network Architecture: Basic Core Networ
changes the
July 10, 2013 | By Netmanias (tech@netmanias.com)
04/02/2018
Online viewer: HTML Netmanias T

Core Networ
TSSF) - 3GPP

Download SUMMARY
01/02/2018
PDF File This document provides a brief overview of the LTE network architecture as the first technical document Netmanias B
of “LTE” area. First, the LTE network reference model is defined and its basic Evolved Packet System (EPS)
en es and the func ons of each en ty are described. Next, the interfaces between the EPS en es and Core Networ
Comments (23) based Arhcit
the protocol stack across the interfaces are described. Finally, how user traffic is delivered across the LTE
64
network is explained for Internet service.
12/11/2017
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Table of Contents
1. Introduc on 08/28/2017
Netmanias B
2. LTE Network Architecture Reference Model
3. LTE Protocol Stacks Part-1: What
performs a v
4. Closing network? - O
References
11/23/2016
Netmanias B

LTE Iden fica

1. Introduction Iden fiers

This document presents the LTE network architecture as the first technical document of “LTE” area. The LTE
08/26/2013
network called EPS (Evolved Packet System) is an end-to-end (E2E) all IP network; EPS is divided into two Netmanias T
parts - LTE part which deals with the technology related to a radio access network (E-UTRAN) and EPC part
which deals with the technology related to a core network. An E2E all IP network means that all traffic flows LTE Iden fica
– from a UE all the way to a PDN which connects to a service entity – are transferred based on IP protocol Iden fiers
within EPS.
08/26/2013
In order for LTE services to be provided to a user over the LTE network, an E2E LTE network reference
Netmanias T
model (NRM) is generally comprised of three additional domains - BSS/OSS domain for subscriber, LTE Iden fica
application domain for providing services, and IP transport network domain for sending IP packets – in
addition to basic EPS domain. The scope of this document is focused on the basic EPS domain. Other EPS
domain features, such as the architectures for LTE interworking with 3GPP/non-3GPP and roaming, are out 08/20/2013
of the scope of this document and will be described in other technical documents later. Netmanias T

LTE Network
The remainder of this document is organized as follows. In Chapter 2, the LTE network reference model is
defined and the EPS entities and interfaces are explained. Chapter 3 will describe the protocol stacks and
then Chapter 4 will explain traffic flows over the LTE network.
07/01/2013
Netmanias B

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1/2/2020 LTE Network Architecture: Basic | NETMANIAS

2. LTE Network Reference Model

Figure 1 shows an LTE network reference model, consisting of LTE entities (UE and eNB) and EPC entities
(S-GW, P-GW, MME, HSS, PCRF, SPR, OCS and OFCS). A PDN is an internal or external IP domain of the
operator that a UE wants to communicate with, and provides the UE with services such as the Internet or IP
Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). In the following, Table 1 and Table 2 show the functions of the LTE and EPC
View All (174)
entities. Table 3 lists the reference points of the LTE network reference model and gives a description of 5G (7) Backbone (2) Back
interfaces between EPS entities. (1) Carrier Ethernet (3) Charg
EMM (16) EPS (2) Goog
Adaptive Streaming (3) Ha
Initial Attach (2) IoT (2) Kor
Identification (2) LTE-A (1) M
NAT (7) Netflix (1) Netwo
Network Protoco
(1) PCRF (3) QoS (3) RCS (3)
Telecom (1) Samsung (3) Sec
Transparent Cache (1) Video S
Wi-Fi (1) YouTube (2)

Figure 1. LTE network reference model

Table 1. LTE entities

Table 2. EPC entities

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Table 3. LTE interfaces

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3. LTE Protocol Stacks

Based on the EPS entities and interfaces defined in Chapter II, the LTE protocol stacks for the user plane
and control plane are described in Chapter III.

3.1 User plane protocol stacks

Figure 2 shows the user plane protocol stacks for the LTE network reference model shown in Figure 1. The
functions of the key layers of the protocol stacks are briefly described below.

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Figure 2. LTE user plane protocol stacks

1) LTE-Uu interface

PDCP: The PDCP protocol supports efficient transport of IP packets over the radio link. It performs
header compression, Access Stratum (AS) security (ciphering and integrity protection) and packet re-
ordering/retransmission during handover.
RLC: In the transmitting side, the RLC protocol constructs RLC PDU and provides the RLC PDU to the
MAC layer. The RLC protocol performs segmentation/concatenation of PDCP PDUs during construction
of the RLC PDU. In the receiving side, the RLC protocol performs reassembly of the RLC PDU to
reconstruct the PDCP PDU. The RLC protocol has three operational modes (i.e. transparent mode,
acknowledged mode and unacknowledged mode), and each offers different reliability levels. It also
performs packet (the RLC PDU) re-ordering and retransmission.
MAC: The MAC layer lies between the RLC layer and PHY layer. It is connected to the RLC layer
through logical channels, and to the PHY layer through transport channels. Therefore, the MAC
protocol supports multiplexing and de-multiplexing between logical channels and transport channels.
Higher layers use different logical channels for different QoS metrics. The MAC protocol supports QoS
by scheduling and prioritizing data from logical channels. The eNB scheduler makes sure radio
resources are dynamically allocated to UEs and performs QoS control to ensure each bearer is
allocated the negotiated QoS.

2) S1-U/S5/X2 interface

GTP-U: GTP-U protocol1 is used to forward user IP packets over S1-U, S5 and X2 interfaces. When a
GTP tunnel is established for data forwarding during LTE handover, an End Marker packet is
transferred as the last packet over the GTP tunnel.

3.2 Control plane protocol stacks

Figure 3 shows the control plane protocol stacks for the LTE network reference model. The functions of the
key layers of the protocol stacks are briefly described below.

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Figure 3. LTE control plane protocol stacks

1) LTE-Uu Interface

NAS2: NAS protocol performs mobility management and bearer management functions.
RRC: RRC protocol supports the transfer of the NAS signaling. It also performs functions required for
efficient management of the radio resources. The main functions are as follows:
Broadcasting of system information
Setup, reconfiguration, reestablishment and release of the RRC connection
Setup, modification and release of the radio bearer
Same as in user plane
Same as in user plane
Same as in user plane

2) X2 interface

X2AP: X2AP protocol supports UE mobility and SON functions within the E-UTRAN. To support UE
mobility, the X2AP protocol provides functions such as user data forwarding, transfer of SN status and
UE context release. For SON functions, eNBs exchange resource status information, traffic load
information and eNB configuration update information, and coordinate each other to adjust mobility
parameters using the X2AP protocol.

3) S1-MME interface

S1AP: S1AP protocol supports functions such as S1 interface management, E-RAB management, NAS
signaling transport and UE context management. It delivers the initial UE context to the eNB to setup
E-RAB(s) and manages modification or release of the UE context thereafter.

4) S11/S5/S10 interfaces

GTP-C: GTP-C protocol supports exchange of control information for creation, modification and
termination for GTP tunnels. It creates data forwarding tunnels in case of LTE handover.

5) S6a interface

Diameter: Diameter protocol supports exchange of subscription and subscriber authentication

information between the HSS and MME.

6) Gx interface

Diameter: Diameter protocol supports delivery of PCC rules from the PCRF to the PCEF (P-GW).

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7) Gy interface

Diameter: Diameter protocol supports exchange of real-time credit control information between the
P-GW and OCS.

8) Gz interface

GTP’: GTP’ protocol supports CDR transfer from the P-GW to the OFCS.

Page 1 of 2 Next

SB00335 2014-05-23 18:10:00

Hi Netmanias,
You guys made LTE learning Easy for freshers also. Please Upload some Technical Documents related to PCRF call flows in Detail. because i am
working on PCRF project.

Thank you.

Netmanias 2014-05-23 23:49:55

We are preparing a technical document on Policy and Charging Control (PCC), and it will be posted by mid-June.
Thank you..

Rakesh 2014-07-21 08:26:12

On S11 interface, does it provide GTP tunnel per bearer?? I think it should be GTP tunnel per user on S11 Interface.

Netmanias 2014-07-28 18:36:42

Hi Rakesh,

Thank you for noticing the error.

We have fixed it and posted the updated file.
Thank you again for your kine comment and sorry for the late reply.

Pinal Patel 2014-09-03 21:20:28

Good One.

JP Singh 2014-09-16 17:10:51

Hi,

Could you please provide LTE roaming call establishing e2e doccuments.

Thanks for sharing valuable doccuments on LTE.

email id: singh.jp111@gmail.com

Mohammad Arabi 2014-11-03 21:12:05

Hi
In LTE network how many MME is needed? or How many user one MME can support?

Vincent 2014-12-17 17:54:27

Netmanias LTE series would be best of the best to understand LTE network. Thank you alot!

NGUYEN THI TAM 2015-02-06 01:53:21

hi, I think that: there are two way for offline charging is OFCS and CG. They use interface Gz (incluce Ga and Rf). If it is OFCS, the interface is Rf and
uses Diameter protocol. If it is CG, the interface is Ga and uses GTP' protocol. Please check again!

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Rajeswari.pothuraju@gmail.com 2015-05-04 22:57:33

In Above Diagram it shows Interface b/w OFCS and P-GW is Gz which will use GTP Protocol .. but Gz is actually uses diameter protocol isn't it ?? got
confused can u pls explain it clearly

Chris Yoo 2015-05-08 04:07:52

Hi, Nguyen & Rajeswari,

As far as I know OFCS can have both Gz (GTP') and Rf (Diameter) interfaces as shown figure below.
If my understading is correct, the Netmanias document (figure 3 above) is not wrong.

Kim Son Nguyen 2015-05-05 17:42:46

Hello everyone!
I don't understand this paragraph
"When a GTP tunnel is established on the S1-U interface, the S-GW assigns a TEID (UL S1-TEID in Figure 4(a)) for uplink traffic and the eNB assigns a
TEID (DL S1-TEID in Figure 4(b)) for downlink traffic."
The eNB encapsulates the user IP packets with the S1 GTP tunnel header and forwards the resulting outer IP packets to the S-GW.
So why S-GW assigns TEID for uplink traffic? Why not eNB assigns??

John Lee 2015-05-09 03:54:50

The S-GW, based on the value "UL S1-TEID" in the received packet from the eNB, figures out to which P-GW and with what "UL S5-TEID" to send the
packet. If eNB assings "UL S1-TEID", there's no way to know mapping between "UL S1-TEID" and "UL S5-TEID" in S-GW.

That is, packet receving node should assigns TEID as shown below:
- UL S1-TEID is assinged by S-GW during attach procedure, then eNB uses UL S1-TEID when it sends packet to S-GW
- UL S5-TEID is assinged by P-GW during attach procedure, then S-GW uses UL S5-TEID when it sends packet to P-GW
- DL S5-TEID is assinged by S-GW during attach procedure, then P-GW uses DL S5-TEID when it sends packet to S-GW
- DL S1-TEID is assinged by eNB during attach procedure, then S-GW uses DL S1-TEID when it sends packet to eNB

For more information you can refer to the link below:

https://www.netmanias.com/en/?m=view&id=blog&no=5928

Do Van Quang 2017-03-16 18:24:18

good, thanks

Kim Son Nguyen 2015-05-12 11:24:01

Hi John Lee
Thank you very much!

Srilakshmi 2015-07-09 19:04:10

Hi,
This is srilakshmi.
could you please share a document on LTE roaming and how does charing works for roaming in lte.

Fabrice 2015-12-20 03:46:43

This introduction was well done. Please help us with more insight with topic like DRX, Power, scheduling and others more.

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Hari 2017-04-04 18:46:50

Hi,
Thanks for sharing the Info on LTE,,its worth usefull.Thanks a Lot.
Hari

Sumanthkumar 2017-10-29 04:20:47

HI,
thanks for the info..
can we download the pdf files for the same.

vineet_agr@yahoo.com 2018-01-16 15:00:07

The follwoing queries are on UE side.

1) What is the mechanism used at UE to select the PDCP Entity for UL IP pakcets?
2) Is DHCP used to get the assined at UE with DHCP server running on PGW and client on UE?

John 2018-01-16 15:09:06

According to the 3GPP standards, UE can get IP address using DHCP protocol, but it is not common in real network. Usually UE will get IP address
from P-GW during LTE attach procedure (with no DHCP procedure). You can find IP address allocation document at https://www.netmanias.com/en/?
m=view&id=techdocs&no=7246

vineet_agr@yahoo.com 2018-01-19 20:44:15

Thanks for providing information on query #2. It was really helpful

Any information on #1?

Ajith Adapa 2019-09-13 05:10:37

Good One

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